Zhang Hongmei is reading in her online space and has already caught up with her computer studies. She is also working hard on her other courses.
I still get up early on Sunday morning to practice Tai Chi. If I skip a day of Tai Chi, I feel uncomfortable all over.
This morning's breakfast was steamed buns, milk, eggs, and cucumber salad.
Shen Yunfang didn't show up after dinner yesterday, probably because she felt she shouldn't get involved. She really didn't care about Zhang Hongmei.
Zhang Hongmei showed no unusual behavior at the dinner table. She greeted everyone as usual, and treated the ten people the same as always.
Jiang Mingyan and the other two were also present. No one mentioned what happened yesterday. Everyone was intentionally avoiding sensitive topics, and it felt the same as before.
After finishing their meal, Kong Yushun stopped Zhang Hongmei and said, "Zhang Hongmei, we have something to tell you."
"Okay, let's go to the living room. We only have twenty minutes, and we can't let it interfere with our studies."
A dozen or so people were sitting in the living room. This time, Han Guangtai spoke first. "Thank you, Zhang Hongmei. If it weren't for your help yesterday, our fate probably wouldn't have been good."
“It’s okay. I’ve said before that we should help each other and support one another. I won’t refuse to help if I can, but I won’t help with the same thing twice.”
Dong Yuping stood up, head bowed, her voice trembling with tears, "Hongmei, thank you. If what really happened yesterday had occurred, I wouldn't be living in this world anymore."
"I already said, no need to thank me. And don't talk about life and death so lightly. To put it bluntly, what does it matter if you die? It's just that your family will be sad."
"I know I was wrong, and this will never happen again."
"It doesn't matter. You're all here. Whoever it is, what happens to you in the future is your own business. I'll say it again: I won't help with the same thing a second time."
Dong Yuping sat down dejectedly. Zhang Hongmei wouldn't forgive her. Did she really want things to turn out this way?
An awkward silence fell over the living room. No one knew what to say. Zhang Hongmei had been very rude, but everyone knew she wasn't anyone to them, and that she was already being very kind to them.
"Alright, I won't keep you any longer. You should all go back and rest. You must have all been frightened yesterday. But I still have a piece of advice for you: never act alone again. Also, don't believe what others say. Think about why you came here. Okay, I'll have someone take you back."
The ten people declined Zhang Hongmei's suggestion and decided to take the bus back instead. They didn't want to trouble her any further.
However, Miao Xinyue and Zhao Yuetong did not go back with them, but stayed behind instead.
After they left, Cheng Guangxu stammered, making Zhang Hongmei want to slap him.
"Hongmei, do you think this is too cruel to them?"
Zhang Hongmei put down her book. "Oh? Where do you think I've been heartless?"
"They've all admitted their mistakes, shouldn't we forgive them?"
"I don't blame them at all. How can I talk about forgiveness?"
"Are you really not angry?"
Zhang Hongmei shook her head. "No, why would I be angry? What are they to me? As their fellow townsman and classmate, I've done everything I could. I've given them honest advice, and if they ever have difficulties in the future, I definitely won't stand idly by if I can help. Isn't that enough?"
Cheng Guangxu was speechless, but he felt that something was off about Zhang Hongmei. After thinking for a while, he realized that it was her aloofness. Yes, it was aloofness.
But this is someone else's business, what right do I have to express my opinion? I warned myself that I must never do anything to upset Zhang Hongmei in the future, otherwise I wouldn't be able to stand her lukewarm attitude.
Zeng Zhongkang looked up and asked Cheng Guangxu, "Are you still studying? If you don't want to study, go back to your room."
"Study, study, study! How could I not study? Zhao Hao is asking us to wake him up."
"I've already called him, he should be up soon." Cai Peilin looked at his friend, not knowing what to say. He must not be in the right state of mind today.
Wang Xinyi and Zhao Tiancheng also got up, greeted each other, and went to the dining room for lunch. Zhao Haozheng wasn't much later than his parents, but he didn't seem to be in good spirits.
The group read their books while waiting for Zhao Haozheng.
Zhao Tiancheng came over after finishing his meal. "Hongmei, I'm going to talk to them and get a word in."
"Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Zhao." Zhang Hongmei really had no other choice but to trouble Zhao Tiancheng. Fortunately, she had such a person to help her, otherwise she really would have no way to cast the spell.
And so, everyone was busy with their own things, and no one was idle. Zhang Hongmei sighed inwardly, feeling like she had returned to the fast-paced life of her previous life.
Zhao Tiancheng didn't come back at noon. Shen Yunfang made pancakes, dipped lettuce in soybean paste, wrapped in the pancakes, and served with a bowl of rice porridge. It felt just like eating in China.
In the afternoon, Zhang Hongmei lost her motivation to study and approached Zhao Haozheng, asking, "Could you drive me to your farm to take a look?"
“Sure, I’ll go ask my mom if she’s going. The three of us can have dinner at the farm and come back. Let me tell you, the roast goose that William and his wife make there is the most authentic.”
"Okay, let's go out and relax a bit."
“I’ll go with you,” Zeng Zhongkang immediately stated.
"What about us?" Cheng Guangxu looked at Zhang Hongmei expectantly.
"Hehe, you guys can just study at home. There's no other way, the car is too small."
Cai Peilin had no objections; anything was fine with her. Miao Xinyue and the other two were still scared and didn't want to go anywhere. So the four of them set off happily. No one paid any attention to Cheng Guangxu's resentful gaze.
It took an hour and a half to reach the farm. It was harvest season, and once we left the city, there were vast cornfields.
"Aunt Wang, walking here feels just like being back in China."
"Hehe, I feel the same way. Haozheng, what do you mainly grow on your family's farm?"
"Corn, wheat, potatoes, cotton, and large areas of pasture. Our family also has a ranch, which is connected together. Although it is not very big, it is still more than 1,300 mu. The farm alone is 900 mu."
"That's really good, but the land here is privately owned, right? We're outsiders, will the government sell us land?" Wang Xinyi had lived here before, so she only had a vague understanding of some things.
“It wasn’t possible at first. I remember my dad took over the farm when I was thirteen. It was bought from a foreigner. The transfer fee alone cost one-tenth of the total land value, not counting the bribes and favors. My dad spent all the family’s money back then, and my dad and I lived a hard life for two years.”
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